Prevent Runoff from Polluting Lake Tahoe

Segment 18 - Urban Stormwater and Infiltration BMP's?
Air Date: June 3
((Anchor/Intro)) When snow and rain falls, runoff water then fills-up gutters and storm
drains. At Lake Tahoe, most of that muddy water flows untreated directly into the lake. In
tonight's Lake Tahoe report, Shelly Purdy takes a look at efforts to clean stormwater
before it gets the chance to pollute.
((TAKE PKG))
((nats urban stormwater tape @ :57-1:15 drainage ditch))
((Track 1)) This drainage pipe is the end of the line for all the storm drains in the Tahoe
City area. The water is collected and sent here - to this man-made wetland built to act as
a natural filter. The wetland is a pilot study being conducted by the Tahoe Research
Group - an affiliate of the University of California, Davis.
((sot urban stormwater tape @ 3:40 ? Andrea Parra, Tahoe Research Group)) 'so, when
it rains or snows of any sort of runoff from the streets the drop inlets or drains here
collect the water and it all gets routed into one pipe which goes into this cement forebay
here. And the cement forebay is meant to slow the water down and let the larger particles
settle out.?
((Track 2)) The water then is able to move slowly through the wetland. The native plants
here act as natural filters by picking up the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment in the
water. Essentially the plants ?treat? the water and make it clean. Before development at
Lake Tahoe, wetlands like this one surrounded the lake's shore keeping the water clear.
But with development most of those wetlands were destroyed?wiping out the lake's
natural filtration system. Researchers are now working on ways to rebuild the system.
((Sot @ 10:38)) "We're trying to recreate the natural system by putting in these man-
made systems to replace the wetlands we?ve lost."
((Track 3)) But finding open land to do these types of projects is proving to be a difficult
task. So for now, only a handful of these man-made wetlands are in operation around the
lake. With the lake tahoe environmental education coalition, I'm Shelly Purdy for KOLO
News Channel 8.
((Ancor/Tag)) By the way, the storm drains here in the Reno area flow directly into the
Truckee River untreated. So think about that the next time you wash or change the oil in
your car. All those chemicals that flow from your driveway into your gutter do eventually
make their way into Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River. For more information about
urban stormwater visit our website at kolotv.com.

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Segment 18 - Urban Stormwater and Infiltration BMP's?
Air Date: June 3
((Anchor/Intro)) When snow and rain falls, runoff water then fills-up gutters and storm
drains. At Lake Tahoe, most of that muddy water flows untreated directly into the lake. In
tonight's Lake Tahoe report, Shelly Purdy takes a look at efforts to clean stormwater
before it gets the chance to pollute.
((TAKE PKG))
((nats urban stormwater tape @ :57-1:15 drainage ditch))
((Track 1)) This drainage pipe is the end of the line for all the storm drains in the Tahoe
City area. The water is collected and sent here - to this man-made wetland built to act as
a natural filter. The wetland is a pilot study being conducted by the Tahoe Research
Group - an affiliate of the University of California, Davis.
((sot urban stormwater tape @ 3:40 ? Andrea Parra, Tahoe Research Group)) 'so, when
it rains or snows of any sort of runoff from the streets the drop inlets or drains here
collect the water and it all gets routed into one pipe which goes into this cement forebay
here. And the cement forebay is meant to slow the water down and let the larger particles
settle out.?
((Track 2)) The water then is able to move slowly through the wetland. The native plants
here act as natural filters by picking up the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment in the
water. Essentially the plants ?treat? the water and make it clean. Before development at
Lake Tahoe, wetlands like this one surrounded the lake's shore keeping the water clear.
But with development most of those wetlands were destroyed?wiping out the lake's
natural filtration system. Researchers are now working on ways to rebuild the system.
((Sot @ 10:38)) "We're trying to recreate the natural system by putting in these man-
made systems to replace the wetlands we?ve lost."
((Track 3)) But finding open land to do these types of projects is proving to be a difficult
task. So for now, only a handful of these man-made wetlands are in operation around the
lake. With the lake tahoe environmental education coalition, I'm Shelly Purdy for KOLO
News Channel 8.
((Ancor/Tag)) By the way, the storm drains here in the Reno area flow directly into the
Truckee River untreated. So think about that the next time you wash or change the oil in
your car. All those chemicals that flow from your driveway into your gutter do eventually
make their way into Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River. For more information about
urban stormwater visit our website at kolotv.com.